The Wolf Within

Finally A Vacation

** Dakota’s POV **

It was so nice to get away from work finally. I had been stuck trying to meet the ridiculous deadlines I had been given for the past two months.

Working as an Art Director was supposed to be fun. I thought to myself. If my boss was better at his job, maybe it would be. He had never been good with timelines and had gotten into a bad habit of only giving me half the time that was actually needed to complete the task to do it in. Not to mention he hardly did any work for himself and was constantly making me do both my own work and his.

While taking the credit for it AGAIN. I thought to myself in disgust. I shook my head as I tried to shake off the feeling.

“We are here to have fun. NOT focus on work.” I said, looking down at my cat, hoping she would acknowledge my statement in solidarity. Instead, I was given a few tail twitches and some tightly shut eyes as she laid on her side, cuddled up next to the pillow on the sofa. Apparently, I had interrupted her napping. “Awe, I’m sorry Silvy.” I cooed as I pet her gently between the ears. “Did I wake you?” She answered with a yawn and a big stretch. “I’m sorry sweetie, would you like me to leave you alone so you can sleep?” She laid on her other side and released a small mew in reply and continued her nap.

“Alright.” I said as I went back to preparing dinner. I had been getting chicken kebabs ready to cook over the open fire. It was nice to have some peace and quiet. I was so happy my parents hadn’t let anyone book the cabin for the week. They had told me, when I asked if I could use it a few weeks ago, that they couldn’t make any promises. It was a popular rental space and they hadn’t wanted to lose their loyal renters. However, when the saw how overworked I was they allowed it.

It was a nice little cabin they had built before they had me. It was situated on a wonderful plot of prairie land which had a small lake which was perfect for fishing for trout. The whole prairie was surrounded by a thick forest and, on a good weather day, the distant mountains could be seen. It was the perfect place to be when one just wanted a break from the world.

I took my plate of kebabs outside to the fire I had started, and kept going since I got here. Thanks to work I had gotten here a few hours late and was stuck prepping dinner at 11:30 pm.

“Dakota, before you go on vacation, did you finish setting up the contact with that artist?” Mark had said on the phone this morning. Due to that sudden work, I was unable to get to the cabin until 8 pm.

Day one of fourteen though. Still thirteen days after this one to relax. I thought to myself as the smell of chicken and grilled vegetables filled the air. As the food cooked, I went into the cabin and turned on the radio; I wanted to listen to some classic jazz hits as I had my dinner. Silvy didn’t seem to mind and she just curled up tighter on the couch.

Poor thing must be tuckered out from the long drive here.

I went back outside and began munching on my dinner when, in the distance I heard a sound that made my skin crawl. It was wolves howling. Normally I wasn’t skittish about wolves being in the area. They had been roaming these lands for a lot longer than people had anyway, so really, I was just a guest in their home. As long as I respected them, they’d leave me alone.

But this was different. This was the most wolves I’ve ever heard howl at once. Normally, when I heard them howl it was maybe three or four of them howling together. Now this was…. Well, it sounded like an ARMY of wolves.

I looked in the direction of the howls, fear freezing me as I held the kebab an inch from my watering mouth, which had yet to get the memo that I was scared and no longer hungry. As drool dripped on my pants, I saw the clouds part in the sky just as their howls ended.

What the hell is happening right now? This was the weirdest thing I had ever experienced. It was almost like the wolves’ howls had made the sky clear up in the area by them.

Or it could be aliens. My inner conspiracy theorist brain started, in a bad attempt to ease my anxiety.

Then it was quiet again. And the clouds began to part throughout the sky and I began to relax. Still slightly tense I decided I would quickly eat the rest of my kebab, pack the rest up, then put the fire out and go back inside.

Halfway through putting the fire out; I heard another set of howls. This time, though, something felt strange. My brain had, seemingly, no control of my body as it got up and went to investigate the sound. Once again and army of howls pierced the night air, but one sounded different, strong, desperate. Like it needed help.

My brain was telling me to stop walking toward the howl. This is not what we were taught in Girl Scouts. It pleaded with me; even then my body only slowed down in response, walking more carefully and readying myself for anything, but it never stopped.

 Halfway between the cabin and the edge of the forest I heard another howl from, what I assumed to be, the same wolf. This time it sounded sad, almost heartbroken. I hoped it wasn’t in any pain as my inner hero rose inside me. My pace quickened as my body felt the need to protect this animal, save it from whatever was causing it pain. I had to find it.

Still my mind kept cautioning, Slow down, what do you think you are doing? We can’t just walk into an ARMY OF WOLVES. WE. WILL. GET. KILLED. It was like a war was raging inside me.

The ultimate fight: Mind vs. Body.

Who will prevail and reign supreme?

Clearly my body was winning, although my mind was getting it to slow down more and more. Close to the edge of the forest I heard twigs breaking. There was a smell that hit my nose.

My Hero Brain (HB): That smells like a summer forest…

My Anxiety Brain (AB): That would make sense. It’s summer and you’re at the edge of a forest.

HB: and sandalwood? Is that sandalwood or sage?

AB: Does it matter? We are at the edge of a forest, in the summer, there are bound to be wild plants in there along with the trees. You are literally smelling nature. Now let’s go back to the cabin.

HB: No. This smells… stronger. Like if I was in the forest in the middle of a hot summer’s day.

AB: It’s a freaking hot summers night! DID YOU HEAR THE WOLF ARMY??? HEAD BACK NOW!

HB: But…

AB: NOW!

HB: But what if….

AB: I mean it! We are in trouble!

HB: Too late.

AB: WHAT?!?!?!?!

Just then, a black wolf, almost like a shadow, came walking out into the prairie, just past the edge of the forest. It was big, definitely an adult, and a female.

I was frozen in place. Torn, between HB and AB, not sure which to listen to as I took in this beautiful wolf. It looked up at me with deep brown eyes which held a ring of bright gold in the center. It looked like it was happy. Its tail gave a slight wag as it lifted its snout and sniffed the air in my direction.

Its black fur looked to be more like a deep red as I examined it further. It looked so thick and soft that I just wanted to go wrap my arms around it and bury my face in it. I also felt a strong urge to give it lots of pets and cuddles.

While my cute aggression was making itself known, my anxiety was beginning to win. Here I was, feet away from the largest wolf I’ve ever seen, which could kill me at any moment.

The situation didn’t feel like a dangerous one, but in all my experience as a hunter, and with all the animals I had worked with through my life… I knew an animal could change it’s mind at any moment. Especially an animal as wild as a wolf. I looked the wolf over from where I stood and couldn’t see any injuries, I wanted to be sure I didn’t need to call the forest preserve to help her.

Then, I spread my arms out and made myself look as big as I could and said “SHOO!” As loud as possible. “SHOO!”